By Dave Lamb For the Dayton Daily News

CENTERVILLE | Even with his size 21 feet, Shaquille O'Neal would have trouble filling these shoes. But new Centerville High School boys soccer coach Bryan Loveless is comfortable with the challenge of following the two men who created one of the state's most successful and stable programs.

Centerville boys soccer

The former Elk player and assistant coach becomes just the third coach in the program's rich history.

His predecessors, Brian Stevens and Gary Avedikian, are members of the Centerville Athletic Hall of Fame. Together, the two coaches compiled a 487-101-74 record in 32 seasons. They guided the Elks to 22 league titles, 21 district titles, six appearances in the state final and a state championship in 1984.

Avedikian, Centerville's first coach, built the Elks into a state power in 14 seasons before he became head coach at Ohio State University. Stevens, a longtime assistant for Avedikian, then guided the program for 18 seasons. His final team last season was ranked third in the state and reached the regional championship.

When Stevens retired, his handoff to Loveless provided perfect symmetry.

Loveless' first year as a player on the Elks' varsity in 1987 was Stevens' first season as the head coach. Loveless was a defender and midfielder for the Elks, who won a district championship his senior season. A torn hamstring cut short his college career at Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee.

Loveless graduated from Wright State and returned to the Elk soccer program in 1994 as a reserve team coach. He compiled an impressive 95-8-13 record in eight seasons at the reserve level, highlighted by a 49-game unbeaten streak.

He was named Western Ohio League Assistant Coach of the Year in 1996.

Loveless, who joined his former coach's varsity staff in 2002, credited Stevens with preparing him for the top job.

"I learned a lot from him," Loveless said. "He made a point of involving me in everything — off-the-field meetings, preparing for training sessions, everything."

Stevens knew he was leaving the program in the hands of someone devoted to the sport.

"I was extremely pleased when Bryan got the job because he has a keen understanding of Centerville soccer and what a unique program it is," Stevens said. "There's a lot of high expectations from the community because of the success we had both at the high school and age-group teams over the year."

Loveless' brother Brad, Centerville's goalkeeper coach since 2000, is just one of the familiar faces on the coaching staff. Neal Vacchiano, the top reserve coach, has been with the program since 1977. Nick Geiger returns for his second season as the B team coach and former Franklin head coach Luke Arnold joins as the new varsity assistant.

Centerville's opening match on Saturday is against perennial state power Westerville North. The Warriors have reached the state final five times and earned a pair of championships.

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